Cr. Ben (Baden) Morgan Ben Morgan (c1901-1985) was of Welsh background and Northcote councilor, union organiser and ALP member. Councilor for seventeen years from 1959/60 to 1975/6 though was never a mayor. From 1941 lived at 115 Roberts St. in Northcote. A boilermaker by trade, employed at the Newport railway yards. Was actively involved with […]
Bruce Kingsbury (1918 – 1942)
Bruce Kingsbury was born in Armadale in 1918. After working interstate for a while he joined his fathers real estate business in Northcote. Kingsbury lived in Gilbert Road in West Preston. When the World War II broke out Kingsbury quickly enlisted. Sent to Palestine Kingsbury saw action in both Egypt and Syria. In 1942, Kingsbury’s […]
The Whalley brothers
The local Leader newspapers were established in 1888, the Preston and Northcote editions being identical except for the masthead. At the outbreak of the war, the papers were published by the Whalley brothers, (John Stott and Richard James Whalley) and local readers were uniquely fortunate that the proprietors were touring Europe when war was declared. […]
My Love of Music
By Arthur B.W. Yong B App Sc JP Many people listen to music for relaxation. Most of us love music: listening, singing, playing musical instruments and dancing to the music. Throughout history, famous writers have said that singing and dancing improves health and wellbeing. Singing and dancing is always with us and you […]
U3A Darebin
On October 16th 1991 a Public Meeting was held at the Northcote Library to establish the University of the Third Age in Northcote. The meeting was launched by the Mayor of Northcote Cr. Phillip Bain and chaired by Eileen Capocchi. Guest speakers included Phil Slattery and Dame Myra Roper. This meeting was the result of […]
St Mary’s Church, Preston
Reported in The Argus, 06 June 1865 The Argus noted the “the laying of the foundation stone, or more strictly speaking (the building being already partly erected), the laying of the corner stone on an acre of land near the seven mile post on the Upper Plenty Road”. The land was donated to the Church […]
Chinese market gardens
The first Chinese market gardens appeared in Northcote in 1887. The Chinese had arrived in Victoria in large numbers during the 1850s gold rushes and many stayed after the rushes ended. German settlers had been operating market gardens in Northcote since at least the early 1860s but in 1887 they sold their holdings to the […]
Expressive Women
We are Expressive Women. We are an open community choir based in Northcote. We bring women in the community together to explore their voices, the richness of world music, and to connect with one another through song and personal storytelling. Every Tuesday night from 7pm during school terms we meet in the Northcote Uniting Church […]
Star Theatre, Preston
Preston’s first picture venue, the Star Theatre on the south-eastern corner of High and Gower Streets opened on September 28, 1922, the evening of the Show Day holiday. The audience was entertained by one of the cinema swashbuckling sensations of the day, “The Mark of Zorro” starring Douglas Fairbanks, Marguerite De Le Motte and Noah […]
Edwin Bastings
In 1849 Edwin and Horace Bastings arrived in Victoria from London. They possibly sought their fortune in the goldfields before establishing themselves in Northcote in 1850. They built two buildings in the small township, a two storey blue stone general store and a hotel across the road. Edwin established the general store and soon added […]